Lynn Peterson to Become Washington's New Transportation Secretary

UPDATE: Gov. Inslee's office confirmed at 1 pm that Peterson will be the next WSDOT secretary.

“We need an innovative approach to fixing a transportation network that is outdated and hampering our economic growth,” Inslee says in a statement. “Lynn has the experience, creativity and leadership skills to help Washington build a transportation system for the 21st century. And we’ll do that in a way that more efficiently moves people and goods and reduces carbon emissions.”

ORIGINAL STORY: Gov. John Kitzhaber’s top adviser on transportation and sustainability, former Clackamas County Chairwoman Lynn Peterson, is expected to be Washington’s next Secretary of Transportation.

Her appointment would signal the ouster of current Washington Department of Transportation SecretaryPaula Hammond, who was appointed by former Gov. Chris Gregoire in 2007.

A spokeswoman for Washington Gov. Jay Inslee says the office will officially announce the appointment soon, but would not confirm whether Peterson was the pick. However, the choice is already circulating in emails to insiders and obtained by WW.

Peterson has served in the governor’s office since February 2011 on transportation issues. However, Patricia McCaig, Kizhaber’s former campaign manager and Columbia River Crossing consultant, was named at the same time as his top adviser on the CRC.

Peterson’s history before heading the Clackamas County Commission includes stints as a transportation consultant, a strategic planning manager for TriMet, a transportation advocate for 1000 Friends of Oregon and a transportation planner for Metro.

Peterson is a transportation planner by training. She earned a B.S. in civil and environmental engineering from the University of Wisconsin and two Master’s degrees from Portland State University in civil and environmental engineering and urban and regional planning.

Her appointment comes the day before Washington Democrats are set to unveil their plans for a new transportation revenue package in Olympia.